[4] Charles H. Wright, a Detroit-based obstetrician and gynecologist, felt inspired to create a repository for African-American history after he visited a memorial to World War II heroes in Denmark during the mid-twentieth century.

Some of the exhibits included the inventions of Michigan native Elijah McCoy, and masks from Nigeria and Ghana that Dr. Wright had acquired while visiting there.

The two-story interactive journey takes guests from African kingdoms and the tragedy of the Middle Passage, to the heroism of the Civil rights movement and beyond.

Located under The Wright's world-famous dome is master muralist Hubert Massey's 72-foot mural on the circular rotunda floor entitled "Genealogy."

[12][13] The Wright offers a range of public programs and educational opportunities for young audiences including historical reenactments, interpretive tours of exhibitions, seminars, summer camps, workshops, and more.

AWF, the museum's largest public outreach program, is a family-friendly event that welcomes more than 150,000 people over a three-day weekend in August.

In 2021, days after President Joe Biden signed a law making Juneteenth, June 19, a federal holiday, the museum presented a hybrid virtual and in-person three-day celebration.

The General Motors Theater is a recently renovated 317-seat facility that serves to host lectures, concerts, film screenings, presentations, seminars, and workshops.

[20] In response to severe flooding that impacted Detroit in August 2014, The Wright collaborated with neighboring institution Michigan Science Center to build and manage stormwater diversion equipment on Warren Avenue.

The development of green stormwater infrastructure projects, like the newly renovated bioswale and urban gardens, helps prevent pollution to the Detroit River, beautify the cultural campus, and teach students and visitors about land and water preservation & sustainability.